New Zealand - Post 13

Tuesday 15 Jan – Sydney

Woke up to the Sydney Opera House going past our window, so headed up for breakfast. We spent quite a bit of time securing packaging, and looking for Australia Post to mail our glass home, and eventually found that they didn't have a box big enough to take it, so decided that it was now packed well enough to take on the plane. We booked our accommodation for the next 4 nights, walked around the Royal Botanic Gardens and Opera House, and came back onto the ship for lunch, dinner and the final show - “A Voyage to Remember”. We have thoroughly enjoyed the cruise, and made some very good new friends, so all-in-all a fantastic experience.

Wednesday 16 Jan

We disembarked and caught the free circuit bus to our accommodation – The Pensione Hotel (fantastically cheap, central place) in George Street. After settling in, we walked to Paddy's Markets, then through Chinatown, before catching the free bus back towards the Quay. 

NSW Government House

ChinaTown Mall

Anchor and Cannon from "The Sirius" - flagship of the First Fleet

We had lunch at Australia Square then walked to the Customs House Library before joining the Free Walking Tour with Greg. He took us, and two other ladies one from Hong Kong and the other British, around The Rocks and some of the other historical sites of Sydney. 

This flag marks the site of the First Fleet landing

Our ship "Celebrity Solstice" docked at the International Passenger Terminal

Greg (the Tour Guide) and the site of the first hanging in Australia

Apparently you rub the nose of the Boar for luck! (And donate a coin to the Hospital)

Dinner was at Dixon Street House Food Court...I had a really fantastic Laksa and Darryl enjoyed a very hot chicken dish. My Laksa was so hot it made me cry...

Thursday 17 Jan

Smith side cousin, Graham and his lovely wife Diane, picked us up mid-morning, introduced us to their daughter Sarah, then drove us all around the North Sydney suburbs and beaches (Dee Why, Curl Curl, Manly, Palm Beach. 

It was pretty amazing to see all the places, including all the beaches we had only ever heard about before. 

We had lunch at a very picturesque location at pub by a bay. 

Sights included the Baha'i Temple – one of only 7 in the world. 

After going along the coastline on the way back we stopped back in the city. We had been discussing a restaurant we had seen where there was a long line of people outside, and decided that must mean it was good. So we decided to eat there, and lined up for 45mins to eat at Mamak - A Malasian Roti and Satay Restaurant. The food 'was' really good, Roti, Hot Curries, and delicious chicken. It was a really enjoyable day.